††††††††††† As
pictured in the story of the prodigal son upon his return to his fatherís
house, when poor, weary sinners come home to God through faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Lord God runs out to meet them, falls on their neck, and bids
them welcome with kissesÖ

Kisses Of Restoration

The Fatherís repeated kisses
mean complete restoration (Eph, 2:11-13). With a kiss, God owns me as his son
again (1 John 3:1-3; Gal. 4:4-6). With the kiss of his grace, God answers all
my prayers and more. Not only am I accepted as a favored servant, I am accepted
as his Son! With the kiss of God upon my cheeks, I am assured that all my lost,
forfeited privileges are completely restored.

Kisses Of Joy

The Fatherís kisses are
tokens of great, abundant joy (Lk. 15:22-24). The angels of God rejoice,
because the prodigal, over whom they have watched with great care, whom they
constantly protected (Heb. 1:14), has now come home. The saints of God rejoice,
because a lost brother has now come home. The triune God rejoices, because the
object of his eternal love has returned to his bosom. Ė He has been returned by
the grace of God. Yet, he gladly returns of his own accord (Psa. 65:4). The
prodigal himself rejoices. He rejoices in his Fatherís great, indestructible love.
He rejoices in the fatted calf slain for his soul Ė the crucified Christ,
feasting upon him with an insatiable appetite. He rejoices in the gospel of
peace, by which reconciliation is proclaimed in the depths of his soul. He
rejoices in the Holy Spirit, the seal of covenant grace, by which he is assured
of his adoption. He rejoices in the robe of perfect righteousness Ė the
righteousness of Christ imputed to him, wherein he stands forever accepted.

Kisses Of Comfort

Surely, these kisses from
the lips of our Father mean overflowing comfort for the hearts of redeemed
sinners. They mean the past is all forgotten. -- The present is all peace. We
are immutably ďaccepted in the Beloved!Ē
-- The future is all secure. At home, in our Fatherís house, there is no
possibility of expulsion, or of us ever leaving on our own (Jer. 32:38-40).

Once in Christ, in Christ
forever! None from Him my soul can sever.

He will never, never leave
me, Nor will let me quite leave Him!

Kisses Of Assurance

The Fatherís kisses, if they
mean anything, mean strong assurance of grace most free. Godís kisses assure us
that his mercy, love, and grace are all real. His incessant kisses assure us
that his love is immutable, unfailing, and everlasting. His kisses assure our
hearts that we are indeed his!

Kisses Of Communion

The Fatherís kisses mean
intimate communion and complete reconciliation established by grace. Before the
prodigal is brought into the fellowship of the family, he must be brought into
fellowship with God. Before a sinner comes to the familyís table, he must have
the Fatherís kiss upon his cheeks. Before there could be any public rejoicing,
there had to be some private kissing. Only after he had received his fatherís
kiss could the prodigal son endure the elder brotherís scorn. But, with his
fatherís kisses upon his cheeks, the scorn of his own brother is nothing.